Five Questions with José Vouillamoz, Grape DNA Expert

In this episode of Five Questions, host Billy Galanko sits down with Dr. José Vouillamoz, one of the world’s leading grape geneticists and co-author of Wine Grapes. José is internationally known for his pioneering work using DNA profiling to trace the origins of grape varieties, revive forgotten heritage vines, and help wineries plan for a climate-challenged future.

Across five questions, José distills decades of research into an engaging look at where wine comes from, where it’s heading, and why grape diversity matters now more than ever.

What You’ll Learn

• How José became a global authority on grape DNA and origins
• Why climate change and declining consumption threaten the wine world
• Two underrated wine regions: Switzerland & Armenia
• Why José pushes back on certain trends—natural wine flaws, no/low-alcohol wines, and the “denormalization” of wine
• His most meaningful recent wine experience and international recognition

Episode Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:19 Welcome to Five Questions
00:44 Meet José Vouillamoz: A Leading Oenologist
00:51 The Role of an Oenologist
03:14 Challenges in the Wine Industry
04:38 Underrated Wine Regions
07:20 Controversial Wine Trends
10:12 Memorable Wine Experiences
11:02 Conclusion and Farewell

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email [e-mail].

Cheers!